PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Vince Velasquez fired two strong innings, and Aaron Altherr cracked a three-run triple as the Phillies tied Tampa Bay, 5-5, in Grapefruit League action Wednesday.
Velasquez struck out one and allowed a single on an 0-2 count, but his two innings were uneventful as he continued to work on developing his curveball. The strikeout was on a well-placed curve.
Altherr added a double to the bases-clearing triple he hit in the fourth inning against veteran righthander Tommy Hunter. He projects as the team's fourth outfielder.
The Phillies scored two in the ninth to tie it.